Africa-Press – Gambia. President Adama Barrow presided over the second quarterly meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at State House, where senior government officials and cabinet ministers conducted a comprehensive review of the country’s economic performance and outlined new national priorities.
According to an official statement from State House, The Gambia’s economic growth is outpacing the regional average, despite ongoing challenges faced by resource-dependent economies. The statement highlighted that while global protectionism continues to fuel inflation across Sub-Saharan Africa, The Gambia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at 5 percent in 2024, with a forecasted growth of 6.3 percent for 2025.“Global protectionism is impacting inflation in the country and other Sub-Saharan African states. The Central Bank of The Gambia reports that commodity prices are volatile. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 5%, and the forecast is 6.3% in 2025,” the statement said.
The inflation rate, driven primarily by rising food prices, currently sits at 8.1 percent. The statement further noted stabilization in the exchange rate during the first quarter of 2025, with remittances reaching $207.9 million and foreign reserves covering 4.3 months of imports. Meanwhile, domestic debt declined to 45.4 percent of GDP, and the ratio of revenue to debt improved.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs updated the council on financial governance issues, emphasizing fiscal and debt sustainability as well as enhanced resilience to natural disasters in risk assessments. Officials also discussed the introduction of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act, aiming to strengthen collaboration between the government and private sector.
“Noting information technology as a priority in governance, the Cabinet agreed to the use of digital platforms to ease doing business as soon as they are operationalized.
“Another key development is the policy decision to include Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the Madrasa system and the submission of the Civil Registry and Vital Statistics – CRVS Bill to the National Assembly, amongst other developments in the process of improving fiscal discipline,” the statement said.
The statement also reported that the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) recorded a significant uptick in revenue collection by the end of April 2025, achieving a 20 percent increase over its target. Compared to the same period in 2024, collections grew by 27 percent—an improvement attributed to the successful digitalization of its systems. Overall, revenue collected between January and April 2025 exceeded projections by 13 percent. Notably, digital stamps accounted for 56 percent of total revenue, underscoring the growing effectiveness of e-invoicing mechanisms. The GRA is also developing a rental income tax payment system to further enhance collection efficiency.
Meanwhile, the Accountant General’s Department reported notable progress following the digitalization of its operations. The upgraded systems now enable more accurate tracking of revenues from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), helping to narrow the gap between financial commitments and actual expenditures.
“The Gambia Investment Enterprise Promotion Agency – GIEPA, during its update, shared new developments in investments, including air transport and other industrial investments, as they work to advance the Economic Zone and land banking,” The Statement said.
The statement further noted that the Gambia Public Procurement Agency (GPPA) reported on efforts to authorize Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to manage their own procurement responsibilities. However, it emphasized the urgent need for additional human resources to assess the institutional capacity of MDAs before they can assume full procurement functions. Once this transition is supported and amendments to the GPPA Act are enacted, the agency will shift its focus primarily to oversight and monitoring.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade reported stable commodity stock levels and relative price stability. However, it raised concerns about discrepancies between the weight and price of bread, as well as hygiene standards at several local bakeries. The Ministry also provided updates on the development of Special Economic Zones.
On labor migration, the statement confirmed that of the 57 Gambian migrant workers recently deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, all have settled in except for two individuals—one of whom has requested to return due to a condition that was not disclosed prior to departure. In the case of Spain, 39 Gambians have been approved for overseas employment.
“The Ministry of Trade reported on satisfactory stock levels of commodities with stability in prices. It raised concerns on the weight vis-à-vis the price of bread and the hygienic condition of some of the local bakeries. It also updated the council on the progress of the Special Economic Zones. Of the fifty-seven (57) migrant labourers who left for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, all have settled and are comfortable, except for two, and one of whom wants to return due to an undisclosed condition before leaving. In the case of migrant workers for Spain, thirty-nine (39) Gambians have been approved,” the statement said.
The statement further noted that the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock provided updates on initiatives aimed at expanding commercial rice farming and accelerating land development projects. As part of these efforts, the Ministry plans to conduct a nationwide land use survey to better understand the country’s topography and guide strategic land allocation for rice cultivation. Officials also emphasized the importance of encouraging and supporting youth involvement in agriculture and livestock production, while creating stable markets for other key crops such as groundnuts.
In a separate briefing, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture outlined plans to enhance data collection on tourist arrivals by categorizing visitors more precisely. The Ministry reported a rise in the number of African tourists and highlighted The Gambia’s growing appeal among a diverse range of interest groups. Ongoing efforts to promote eco-tourism and provide support to entrepreneurs in the tourism sector were also underscored.
“In its presentation, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture shared its plan to further segregate the data on tourist arrivals, with further analysis of the visitors into various categories. It reported the increase in African tourists and The Gambia as a destination for various interest groups. Promotion of eco-tourism and support for entrepreneurs in the sector are ongoing,”
The National Economic Council’s quarterly meeting is designed to strengthen governance through timely executive decision-making, address administrative bottlenecks, and improve operational effectiveness and efficiency across government institutions.
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